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I’m not much of a teacher. I thought about having crochet lessons on this blog, but there are many people that are better at explaining things than I am. Therefore, I thought the best way to help new crocheters in learning crochet isto point them toward the resources I find the most useful. So without further ado:
3 Favourite Crochet Books
Stitch and Bitch: The Happy Hooker by Debbie Stoller
I realize the name may be a bit off-putting to some people, but this book is worth looking past that. It has pretty much all the information a new crocheter needs. Everything from hooks and yarns to stitches (including Tunisian) to how to finish your work. There’s even a short history of crochet and 40 patterns to get you started. Best of all, the lessons and tips are delivered in easy to understand language and with a great sense of humour.
200 Crochet Tips, Techniques and Trade Secrets by Jan Eaton
This is more of a reference book than a learn to crochet book, but it’s a tresure trove of crochet know-how. From making your own crochet hook case to how to best store your latest heirloom project, if you’ve got a question about crochet, there’s a good chance you’ll find the answer in here. Seriously. It even tells you how to dye your yarn with kool-aid. Oh and the title lies, there’s actually 314 tips and some useful reference charts besides.
Finishing Techniques for Crochet by Pauline Turner
This book is a bit more advanced than the first two, but ‘d be lost without is these days. It has all the little things you need to know to make your work look polished and professional. There’s a great section on taking measurements, all the different seams you’re likely to need, lots of tips on creating shapes and much more. I confess, I haven’t read this book from cover to cover, yet, but what I have read is gold.
2 Favourite YouTube Channels
Everybody doesn’t learn the same way, of course. If you prefer to learn through videos, the following channels have you covered:
The Crochet Guru has put together an excellent series of tutorials for beginning crocheters. Her Beginners playlist comes in both right-handed and left-handed versions and has all the information a crochet newbie needs to get started. That includes some good advice on what hook and yarn to start with. For slightly more advanced crocheters, her Stitch Guide playlist has tutorials on topics like increasing and decreasing as well as fancier stitches, such as shells. (It also comes in a left-handed version.) You can also check out her website at crochetguru.com.
If you want to learn Tunisian crochet, Crochet Kim’s YouTube channel is the place to go. Like Crochet Guru, she has tutorials for both right and left-handed stitchers. The playlists have everything from starting a foundation row to increasing and decreasing. There are also tutorials on more Tunisian stitches than I knew existed, as well as many videos on regular crochet. Her website can be found at crochetkim.com
If you’re still looking for more resources for learning crochet, I have a small but growing Learn to Crochet board on Pinterest.
Do you have any favourite resources for learning crochet? Share them in the comments below! You never know who it might help.
Important note: I had thought I’d be adding more patterns this week. Unfortunately, dout to Easter and other delays, that will have to wait until next week.
I personally like the youtube videos done by The Crochet Crowd for tutorials. Have learned a lot from them.
True. Crochet Crowd has a lot of great videos. So many that I got a little overwhelmed when I subscribed to their channel. 🙂
I have Stitch and Bitch! Great resource, I agree. I’m eager to find Finishing Techniques now. Thanks for sharing!
It’s a great book. I hope you find it.